Kilruane make hay over fourteen man Drom

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Under 21 ‘B’ Hurling Final

Kilruane MacDonaghs 4-17

Drom & Inch 2-13

Report: Liam Hogan at Kenyon Park, Templederry

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Shane Cleary (Kilruane MacDonaghs)

SCORERS - Kilruane MacDonaghs: Michael Cleary 0-7 (5 frees, 1 ‘65); Tommy O’Meara 2-0; Eoin Carroll, Fiachra Ahearne Woods 1-2 each; Charlie Kennedy 0-3; Cian Moyles, Shane Cleary, Brian O’Meara 0-1 each.

Drom & Inch: Cormac Fitzpatrick 0-10 (8 frees, 1 ‘65); TJ Kinane, Cormac Cahill 1-0 each; Darragh Fitzpatrick 0-2; Conor Gleeson 0-1.

The final scoreline left no doubt as Kilruane MacDonaghs comprehensively defeated a Drom & Inch who played much of the game with fourteen men in the County Under 21 ‘B’ Hurling Final on St. Stephens Day.

The eleven point victory could have been greater but for thirteen wides (nine for Drom) with the runners-up producing a strong finish with two goals in the last eight minutes putting a better picture on the scoreboard.

However, there still the lingering doubt as to how the game would have panned out had Drom & Inch, who were very competitive upto that point, had not lost wing forward David Kinane to a straight red card in the 28th minute for a late tackle on Kilruane’s Shane Cleary who had just made a clearance.

From this vantage point, referee Anthony Owens didn’t see the incident as he allowed play to continue and following consultations with his officials, he issued a red card to a shell-shocked Kinane. It was arguably very harsh and playing a man down made it an uphill battle for the Mid champions. At the time of the dismissal, Kilruane had a five point lead 2-6 to 0-7.

It was a real pity because the opening passages of play were in direct contrast to the second half as both sides produced starting a Cian Moyles score after twelve seconds matched by an equalising point from Cormac Fitzpatrick eighty seconds later.

By the sixth minute Kilruane had opened a four point lead thanks to a 1-2 burst, the goal by Fiachra Ahearne Woods when he first timed in the square after a move initiated by Cian Moyles’ great run from distance.

Despite the setback, Drom showed real courage and four unanswered points followed, with Cormac Fitzpatrick converting a 65 after a save by Tom Austin, plus two frees from the left to bring the teams level by the fourteenth minute.

Fitzpatrick was one of a number of Drom & Inch players full of running with Jack Johnson running the show at midfield while Eoin Kennedy and Mark Conroy were in command in the spine of a much settled backline.

The Kilruane defence had plenty to cheer about too. Shane Cleary’s command over Cormack Fitzpatrick was notable in front of a close marking full backline with corner back Cormac Kennedy particularly noticeable. It was noteworthy that midfielder Cian Moyles, as he did so many times in the semi-final win over Fethard, led many a run and had the Drom defence worried.

The three minutes between the 17th & 20th minutes saw Kilruane take a clear advantage beginning with a Shane Cleary point from far out. Seconds later, Tommy O’Meara showed great skill and balance when an absent defence allowed the Kilruane centre forward coast along the end-line to bat past Sean Dempsey from an acute angle.

However, Cormac Fitzpatrick’s quick response from a free kept Drom sweet. Michael Cleary replied with two frees, the first after Jack Mulcahy was fouled with the second following a foul on Cian Moyles who had danger written all over the Drom goal area.

Not to be outdone, Drom’s fighting qualities helped them respond with two Cormac Fitzpatrick frees either side of another Michael Cleary free which arose from David Kinane’s dismissal.

Half time score: Kilruane MacDonaghs 2-7 Drom & Inch 0-9.

The second half continued in the same vein with Michael Cleary and Cormac Fitzpatrick trading frees. Kilruane lost Jack Mulcahy to injury in the 33rd minute as Eoin Carroll picked off a well-taken point only to see a similar response from Drom full forward Conor Gleeson two minutes later.

But in a matter of minutes the game changed. In the 36th minute Kilruane skipper Eoin Carroll was first to react to a great save by Sean Dempsey who had denied Charlie Kennedy from close range.

Cormac Fitzpatrick, kept quiet under the watchful eye of Shane Cleary, replied with a free but the extra man was beginning to tell as Kilruane hit 1-5 without reply in a twelve minute burst, the fourth goal by Tommy O’Meara from almost the end-line with the other five points coming from the tireless Ahearne Wood, Charlie Kennedy (2) and two more from Michael Cleary, including his first from play.

Leading by fifteen points, it was all over bar the shouting but in fairness, the Mid champions never gave up and a goal by midfielder Cormac Cahill was quickly added to by another Fitzpatrick free in the 55th minute. Michael Cleary replied with a free but substitute TJ Kinane had the Kilruane net breached for a second goal from a crowded square with two minutes remaining before winning captain Eoin Carroll had the final say with a point leaving Kilruane the winners.

TEAMS - Kilruane MacDonaghs: Tom Austin (7); Cormac Kennedy (8), Eamon Coonan (7), Paul Molloy (7); Ross Austin (7), Shane Cleary (8), Cathal England (7); Cian Moyles (8), Brian O’Meara (7); Fiachra Ahearne Woods (8), Tommy O’Meara (7), Michael Cleary (7); Charlie Kennedy (7), Jack Mulcahy (7), Eoin Carroll (Capt 7).

Subs: Johnny Naughnane (7) for Mulcahy (33 inj); Sean Hayes (6) for R Austin (51); Cormac Gaynor (6) for England (53); Jack Quinlisk (6) for Charlie Kennedy (57); Michael Hennelly (NR) for Ahearne Woods (59).

Drom & Inch: Sean Dempsey (6); Jack Sheridan (7), Eoghan Kennedy (Capt 7), Paddy Hoare (7); Jamie Shanahan (7), Mark Conroy (7), Darragh Hoare (6); Cormac Cahill (6), Jack Johnson (7); David Kinane (6), Cormac Fitzpatrick (7), Jack Costello (6); Darragh Fitzpatrick (6), Conor Gleeson (6), James Ryan (6).

Subs: TJ Kinane (6) for Sheridan (47); Tim Comerford (NR) for J Costello (59).

Referee: Anthony Owens (Solohead).